UK Edition
Paris Saint-Germain drop their interest in Alexis Sanchez giving Arsenal huge boost ahead of season
Arsenal have received a significant boost on the eve of the season with Paris Saint-Germain dropping their interest in Alexis Sanchez following the world record signing of Neymar.
At the same time Chelsea and Manchester United have received encouragement to pursue a deal to sign Serge Aurier after PSG decided to put the right-back up for sale.
Aurier is highly-rated by PSG but after the arrival of Dani Alves and with the Belgium international right-back Thomas Meunier also at the club it has been decided that he can leave to kick-start his career elsewhere.
PSG had been close to making a move, and were confident of succeeding, for Sanchez before they agreed the extraordinary £198million deal to sign Neymar from Barcelona.
The French giants had hoped to sign either Neymar, Sanchez or Monaco’s Kylian Mbappe during this window and are delighted to have secured the Brazilian international who was their first-choice.
Sanchez is still wanted by Manchester City but there is a growing sense that despite having just one year left on his contract Arsenal are prepared to allow him to see out the remainder of his deal and leave for free next summer.
Although manager Arsene Wenger has insisted in the past that players would not be sold, before eventually agreeing a deal, there is a feeling that this time he is determined to maintain that stance - not least because of the number of times he has said it publically.
Bayern Munich, who also held talks with Sanchez’s representatives, have already backed off because of his wage demands with senior sources at PSG yesterday strongly dismissing reports from the striker’s native Chile on Tuesday that they are prepared to bid more than £80million for the 28-year-old.
Sanchez and his representatives are aware that PSG have now cooled their interest during this window and although City remain in the running it may well be that they are prepared to wait until next summer before signing him on a ‘free’.
Keeping Sanchez will be a huge boost for Arsenal and will also help restore Wenger’s credibility even if he and the club are prepared to write off what would be a big fee for the player.
It has been suggested that PSG rate Aurier at £27million but the club has yet to enter into negotiations over his sale and are prepared to listen to offers for the 24-year-old Ivorian.
There is a sense at PSG that Aurier needs a fresh start to revive his career. He is currently appealing against a two-month prison sentence for assaulting a police officer last year and, because of that conviction, was banned from entering the UK for PSG’s Champions League fixture against Arsenal last season.
If the conviction is upheld it remains to be seen whether it affects his chances of playing in England but Chelsea are believed to have now joined United in considering a move for him. Both clubs are looking to strengthen in the full-back/ wing-back area. United do not have experienced cover for Antonio Valencia and Chelsea are in a similar position with Victor Moses.